Eat at Jimmie's

That's what we're doing this morning. And by we, I mean my mom, dad and brother who just got a wild hair and decided to drive down from Maryland on Friday. Hotrod will be headed off to work like a good worker bee.

Jimmie's is sort of a legendary spot around here, especially for breakfast. I've taken my parents there, but not my brother, so today I'll be fattening them up then taking them to Lowes for some home improvement type purchases. Both my dad and brother are home builders, so whenever they come down, I have chores for them. What? That's what family is for.

I'll take pictures of the massive breakfast and report back tomorrow. (You can actually friend Jimmies on Myspace. lol) What are you doing today?

Caturday!

Does this box make me look fat?
Um, no. You do that on your own just fine.

HAPPY FOURTH OF JULY!!!

It's been a big, big week

This has been one of the craziest, but best, weeks of my life.

First I got my very awesome Samhain cover. Then I found out I was selected to be one of the people who gets to try out a Sony reader for 2 months. Then yesterday, the biggest news of all...

My agent, Elaine Spencer, sold my urban fantasy to Orbit in a three book deal!

I feel pretty blessed right now. And I want to say thanks to my friend and Romance Divas co-founder, Jax Cassidy. Jax has always believed in me, always been a strong supporter of my work, always encouraged me when I wasn't feeling so great about this business, always told me I would sell. And while there have been other people in my life who've been there for me, Jax and I have pretty much been in this together from the beginning. So not only is she a talented writer/author herself, but she's a great friend. (And my webmistress!) I hope you all have a Jax in your life.

I have a cover!

This is the cover for my September 1st release from Samhain. Hotness, yes?

Here's the blurb:

Alrik Gunn knows from bitter experience that change isn’t always for the better. From the woman who annihilated his Viking clan to the goddess who tricked him into centuries of slavery, betrayal has dogged his existence. The Goddess of Love is going to let him avenge his family, but for a price. As a Phoenix—a merchant of change—he must grant a human woman three chances to change her life.

When former Irish dancer Calleigh McCarthy tosses a carved-bird statue that belonged to her ex into a roaring bonfire, she unwittingly summons an honest-to-god Phoenix. A sexy, irresistible Viking who offers her an unbelievable bonus—three get-out-of-her-crappy-life-free cards. She’ll take it, even if it means guarding her cautious heart against the dark pain behind Alrik’s eyes.

Alrik has vowed never to let love sway him again, but Calleigh's innocence and kindness throw him off balance. Yet even as his need for revenge fades and his love for her grows, he is bound to let her make her choices without interfering.

One wrongly chosen word, and any chance for happiness—for either of them—will go up in flames.

I know you all want to buy it, but you're just going to have to wait!

You know what they say about the green ones...

I'm sending Hotrod off to work today with about 6 dozen M&M cookies for his company picnic (employees only or I'd be going too). M&M cookies are one of my secret weaknesses. I love cookies anyway, but I love the extra crunch of that candy shell. Mmmm...

Anyway, I'd never used this recipe before but these came out AWESOME so I thought I'd share. Make these with red, white and blue M&M's and you've got a perfect July 4th treat.

Red's Ultimate Cookies

Ingredients

1 cup butter, softened
1/2 cup granulated sugar
1/2 cup firmly packed light brown sugar
1 large egg
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
2 cups all-purpose flour
1/2 teaspoon baking soda
1/8 teaspoon salt
1 12-ounce package M&M’S® MINIS® Milk Chocolate Candies
3/4 cup chopped nuts (optional - I did NOT use nuts, but I may have thrown in an extra handful of chocolate chips)

Directions

Preheat oven to 350°F. In large bowl, cream butter and sugars until light and fluffy; beat in egg and vanilla. In medium bowl combine flour, baking soda and salt; blend into butter/sugar mixture. Stir in M&M’S® MINIS® Milk Chocolate Candies and nuts, if desired. Drop dough by heaping teaspoonfuls 2 inches apart onto ungreased cookie sheets. Bake 10 to 13 minutes or until edges are lightly browned and centers are still soft. Do not overbake. Cool 1 minute on cookie sheets; cool completely on wire racks. Store in tightly covered container.

MAKES ABOUT 50 COOKIES. I actually doubled the recipe and it came out great.

Expiration Dates

I'm over at Fictionistas talking about things that have expiration dates and things that should. Come throw your 2 cents in!

Ugh, Monday.

Actually, it's quite possible my brains have all been sucked out. See, I knew today was going to be one of those days when I woke up with about eight mosquito bites. Seriously, I look like I have the pox.

But I have to go grocery shopping since we're pretty much out of lunch-making supplies (yes, I pack Hotrod a lunch every day) and I need stuff to make cookies for Hotrod's company July 4th picnic. (Packed lunch, cookies to take to a special event...anyone else see a grade school parallel?)

Other than that, there are two things I plan on doing today. Working out and writing. And ignoring the internet. Okay, that's three, but it's Monday and you can't expect me to work numbers after playing pin cushion to the insect population last night.

What are you doing on this *fine* day?